The faculty meeting room of Hanul Comprehensive Art School.
Here, the final evaluation of the recent Hanul Youth Art Competition was taking place.
Heated discussions among numerous professors and art instructors filled the room.
No, to put it more precisely, they were excited.
“This year is incredible…!”
In the past, there had been students who solved the competition’s problems, but never had anyone produced “innovative works” that so perfectly aligned with the context of the problems like this.
What’s more, the creators of these two pieces were just a middle school student and an elementary school student.
It was as if prodigies had arrived in a “buy-one-get-one-free” package.
There are truly rare types of people in this world.
A “virgin witch.”
A childhood friend.
A gyaru who’s kind to otakus.
And so on…
Among them, even rarer was a newbie artist with both talent and passion.
Usually, if one had ability, they lacked motivation, and vice versa.
And when someone possessed both, it was often discovered too late.
Talented young newbies.
One of them was from Hanul.
The other was self-taught.
Both had distinct and exceptional characteristics.
The seasoned veterans in the room were salivating with excitement.
“Hey, hey, a newbie who develops their own knowledge of modern art history and creative concepts without being taught? That’s just unfair…! Damn, do they have a talent that even brushes would get jealous of?”
Of course, they didn’t phrase it quite like this, but the sentiment was similar.
“This is truly exciting for the future of Korean art!”
“A box. Just a box. But a world dividing light and darkness… Could an elementary school student really come up with this answer? Perhaps they’re the child of some famous artist?”
“More than that, I was deeply impressed by the bold performance of ‘One Sheep.’ Light is always about color and contrast, but dismantling it back into contrast and color through performance? The artistry shines through, leaving only color and light! The fact that a middle school student conceptualized and executed this is astonishing.”
“One Sheep has even interacted with modern artists in New York, the hub of the global art scene, hasn’t she? But Go Hana studied on her own at a regular school with no art background. Of course, both are precious talents, but if I were to choose the one to focus on more…”
“It might just be a lucky shot. One Sheep has experience with solo exhibitions and artist activities, after all…”
“What nonsense! If you look at Go Hana’s earlier sketches before the box piece, you’d see her composition skills and form-sensing ability are exceptional!”
The meeting room was abuzz with the arrival of new stars.
Like fans of eSports debating who would open the new era of mid-laners, everyone had their opinions.
However, Professor Jung Jeonjin, who had studied in Germany, remained cool-headed.
‘Both the box and the window are works that could easily be criticized by the press.’
The honorary German’s blood ran cold.
He placed the photos of the artworks on the table.
Thud.
“Artist Name: Go Hana”
“Title: Untitled”
Thud.
“Artist Name: Han Mari”
“Title: Untitled”
Was it confidence in their answers already embedded in the work?
They boldly omitted titles.
‘They truly only expressed “light” as the answer and stripped away all explanation.’
One photo showed a plain box (with small eye holes cut out), sitting quietly.
Another photo captured a window painted in colorful hues.
Both photos, taken with great care in a professional studio, were so clear that even slight smudges on the surface were visible.
Looking at the vivid photos anew brought a sense of emptiness.
Professor Jung Jeonjin knew exactly how these works would appear to an average person.
‘They’re just…’
Just a box and a window.
No matter how he looked at it, they seemed like junk.
‘And these are the candidates for the grand prize?’
It was clear that when the results were announced, public criticism of the Hanul Youth Art Competition, which had continued since the 1980s, would escalate.
“Is this even art?”
Such phrases echoed in Professor Jung Jeonjin’s mind.
“Sigh…”
From the perspective of a competition piece, both works utilized classic techniques within established modern art styles.
Go Hana’s readymade.
Han Mari’s action painting.
They boldly executed two challenging genres in an appropriate context.
This wasn’t just about basic skills; it reflected an understanding of art as a whole.
And both students had solid fundamentals.
Their potential was immense.
‘But how will the rigid education authorities or sensationalist journalists react…? The other judges are simply thrilled about the budding talent, but…’
‘What to do?’
While Professor Jung Jeonjin was deep in thought, the judges’ debate grew more heated.
“Mr. Kim, could you have conceptualized such works in elementary school? This is an extraordinary talent! Han Mari may be taking a year off for personal reasons, but in the meantime, we must discover new prodigies!”
“Well, how do we know it wasn’t just a fluke? I, too, grew up reading books about Duchamp and Andy Warhol. It might simply be something they imitated after seeing elsewhere. One success doesn’t prove skill; the second time does.”
The person responding to this was someone who had been quietly observing the journalists recording the session.
“Then why don’t we give them a chance?”
The young professor An Sooyoung, who oversaw the international exchange program, looked around with a confident gaze.
“What… what do you mean, Professor An?”
“A chance. A second one.”
Professor An pressed the remote button for the meeting room TV.
A video recording of Han Mari’s performance began to rewind.
In the video, Han Mari’s actions slowly reversed until she appeared crestfallen, sitting down, and finally, just before she stood up.
Until Han Mari saw Go Hana, she didn’t move.
“It seems that Go Hana served as the muse who inspired this young prodigy. A younger girl, with far less experience, giving such intense inspiration to someone her senior. What do we call someone like her? A prodigy? A genius?”
“…A genius.”
“If she’s truly a genius…”
Professor An ended her sentence with a smile.
“…won’t she be able to prove herself splendidly even under public scrutiny? That’s the purpose of this competition, isn’t it?”
Professor Jung Jeonjin’s eyes twitched slightly, but soon he found himself curious about what Professor An had said.
Could that child really show a “second” success?
Could she continue to prove herself?
‘A genius, huh…’
Professor Jung Jeonjin finally picked up the photo of the box again.
“Artist Name: Go Hana”
On a day well into mid-April, the grand prize of the Hanul Youth Art Competition was awarded to an elementary school student by a majority vote among the judges.
All art publications were abuzz.
“Grand Prize Winner: Go Hana”
“Excellence Award Winner: Han Mari”
“Who is this Go Hana that beat Han Mari?”
As people began to dig deeper, they learned:
She was an elementary school student.
She had never attended an art academy.
She grew up in a single-uncle household in a difficult environment.
As pieces of information about her slowly fell into place, the puzzle began to point to a single phrase:
“A disadvantaged genius.”
The discovery of a figure starkly contrasting Han Mari, the privileged granddaughter of a chaebol family and an idol-like figure.
Their encounter formed the foundation of a narrative:
“The meeting of a privileged genius and a disadvantaged genius.”
A duel that seemed to stir the hearts of the public.
“This…”
“…Could sell well.”
In a fragmented and waning art world, a story capable of moving the public’s hearts was precious.
Everyone began scouring for information on “Go Hana.”
The first to respond was a small art magazine, Palette, which had already begun investigating her.
“Ah, Ms. Lim Ahra, good day. This is Palette, the art magazine. We’re reaching out to you regarding…”
They were aiming for the prize-winning horse already in motion.
An elementary school student had won the grand prize of the Hanul Youth Art Competition.
And that elementary school student was a proud member of Seoul Daesan Elementary School.
Despite this unprecedented news, which should have prompted banners and celebrations at the school, the atmosphere in Daesan Elementary’s faculty office was grim.
Teacher Lim Ahra let out a deep sigh as she looked at the girl sitting before her.
She was the child who had joined her class after moving up from third grade.
The girl at the center of all the attention.
And the one who wanted to leave elementary school more than anyone else.
Teacher Lim asked Go Hana seriously:
“…Really?”
“Yes, I want to skip grades and graduate early at the same time.”
“Is there a reason you’re in such a hurry? Of course, from your mature perspective, elementary school might seem trivial. I’ve heard what the magazine people have been saying.”
“You’re undoubtedly talented, but at your age, even a difference of one or two years can be significant. It might be tougher than you imagine.”
“I know. But I still want to graduate quickly. And I also want to take the entrance exam for Hanul Comprehensive Art School next year.”
“Can you tell me why you’re in such a rush?”
Go Hana, holding the ‘Grade Skipping Application’ and ‘Early Graduation Application’ signed by her uncle, replied clearly.
“My friend is waiting for me.”
That evening, her uncle was meticulously washing the car he’d just received from Mr. Kang at the carwash.
‘He really cherishes it. Well, I guess I’d do the same with my first car.’
With Mr. Kang’s magical administrative assistance, her uncle had managed to sort out the taxes and insurance for the car in no time.
Now, he treated the car like a treasure.
‘Mr. Kang was really grateful that I visited Mari in the hospital.
He even helps with personal stuff like this.’
I sat nearby, watching absentmindedly.
Then my uncle looked over at me.
“So, how did it go?”
“…It’s such a unique case that it seems like it’ll take a while. For the entrance exam, my teacher said she’d contact Hanul Art School to find out. As for early graduation, the education department says I need proof, like an IQ test or a valid reason. There’s also some test similar to a GED I have to take.”
“Is that so.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not asking why?”
“Why what?”
“Why I want to graduate elementary school so early.”
My uncle casually shrugged it off.
“I dropped out after middle school, so why not? Graduating early isn’t a big deal.”
“…It’s different.”
“How? Isn’t it the same? You’re leaving because you think your talent outgrows what elementary school can offer. I quit because I figured my brain wasn’t cut out for high school.”
He shrugged his shoulders again.
“There’s no rule saying you have to follow the path society lays out. It’s all personal choice. And you want to leave early because you’re ahead of others, right?”
“Anyway, I’m glad you want to go to a prestigious school. Even if I have to empty my savings account, I’ll make it happen.”
“I’ve looked into scholarships, so you don’t have to overdo it. Also, Mom said if you hadn’t dropped out to make a living, you would’ve been top of your class.”
“Your mom used to scold and hit me all the time, but she praised me behind my back, huh?”
My uncle gave me a cheeky smile.
“Anyway, don’t worry. I may not be well-educated, but I believe in you.”
“…You always say that.”
“And.”
Squeak, squeak.
He wiped the car windows dry as he continued.
“Owning a car has made me think about a lot of things. It broadens your perspective.”
“Like what?”
“Like… ‘Am I someone worthy of this car?’ ‘Will I be able to afford the gas?’ ‘This is my first time dealing with insurance.’ Stuff like that.”
Scrub, scrub.
It was a luxury sedan from a domestic brand.
To some, it was nothing compared to an imported car, but to Park Taeoh, it was a treasure.
Looking at his reflection in the large car window, my uncle murmured.
“One thought led to another, and I started wondering, ‘Am I really an adult?’ How long can I keep living paycheck to paycheck like this?”
“…So you quit the food factory.”
“What?!”
I stared at him in shock, but his tanned face looked strangely relieved.
“I bowed my head to Mr. Kang for the first and last time and asked for help.”
“…What did you say?”
“I told him I wanted to be someone worthy of my niece. Or at least someone who could support her. I didn’t want to borrow money from anyone for her tuition. I asked him to show me the way to becoming a proper person.”
“And?”
“He suggested I start by attending a technical training school. He even offered to introduce me to a well-known one in the industry.”
“When do you start?”
“Next year. Oh, and don’t worry about living expenses or tuition fees. I got ten years’ worth of severance pay from the factory.”
“…I see.”
My uncle finished washing the car and stepped back to admire its shiny exterior, a contented smile on his face.
“Man, it looks amazing. Should we go for a drive?”
“It’s already 7 PM.”
“So what?”
“…You’re right.”
“It’s our car. We can do whatever we want.”
I quietly got into the passenger seat and fastened my seatbelt.
My uncle chuckled as he started the engine.
The car left the carwash and drove forward.
A few days later, Hanul Comprehensive Art School sent their response regarding my entrance exam.
We will send an evaluator to conduct a basic skills assessment.
Professor An Suyoung drove her car to an elementary school.
As she arrived, she let out a wry smile.
‘I was the one who pushed for this award, but coming here myself feels odd.’
Well then.
Let’s see.
Will this young muse turn out to be a genius or just a lucky kid?